Systems and methods for initiating payment from a client device

ABSTRACT

The disclosed embodiments include a mobile client device for automatically performing a mobile financial service function, including a memory storing software instructions, the software instructions including a mobile financial service application configured to perform financial service processes. The system may also include and one or more processors configured to execute the software instructions to detect a physical action performed on the mobile client device, and determine a first financial service function to perform based on the detected physical action, wherein the first financial service function is a function provided by the mobile financial service application. The one or more processors may also determine whether verification of a user is required, verify the user if verification of the user is required, and automatically initiate the first financial service function.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of to U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/175,052, filed Feb. 7, 2014, which claims priority to ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/787,625, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, each of whichis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Many forms of mobile payments are available to consumers today. Whiletraditional methods such as cash and credit cards remain popular, manyconsumers also use new forms of payment made available via electroniccomputing devices. For example, many devices contain near-fieldcommunication (“NFC”) capability, which allows a payment to be initiatedwhen the device is placed into close proximity with an NFC reader.Likewise, optical codes containing payment information, such as QRcodes, may be created and displayed on a device screen. A merchant mayprocess the payment simply by scanning the displayed code.

For security reasons, a client device user must often launch a specialapplication and enter a username and password before these paymentmethods can be used. This prevents the device from initiating accidentalpayments, for example, by simply approaching too closely to a NFCreader. Likewise, it prevents fraudulent use if a device is lost orstolen. However, the log-in process is often cumbersome and takes longerthan conventional payment methods such as credit cards or cash. Addingto the inconvenience, a user may sometimes be forced to step through aseries of menu options in an application before getting to the option tomake a wireless payment. Further, an individual may also forget theirusername or password. As a result, there is a need for a method toinitiate payment on a client device simply and quickly.

SUMMARY

Disclosed embodiments include methods, systems, and articles ofmanufacture configured to, for example, initiate financial transactions,such as payments, from a client device in an efficient and user-friendlyway. For example, the disclosed embodiments include mechanisms thatdetect determined gestures or motions associated with a client device,which enable a client device to deep link into a particular paymentfunction associated with a mobile banking application executed by theclient device.

For example, the disclosed embodiments include a client device thatincludes instructions stored in memory that may be executed by one ormore processors to perform a method of initiating a financialtransaction, such as a purchase transaction or other form of payment. Inone example, the client device may receive a request to initiate apayment using the client device and a financial account. In certainembodiments, the request may include of an action such as a gesture ormotion associated with the client device. In other embodiments, therequest may include a specific input sequence. The client device mayfurther identify a user after the request has been received, based on asimple token such as a PIN, or based on a second request that may bedifferent from the first. Once the user has been successfullyidentified, the client device may initiate payment based on a paymentmethod performed by the client device. The payment method may beselected by a user, based on a stored user preference, or based on themethods available at the merchant. Additionally, the payment details maybe received from the user, from the merchant, or from a combination ofboth. In this manner, the client device may provide a simple, quick, andsecure manner of initiating payments. Other aspects of the disclosedembodiments will be evident to those of skill in the art from thisdisclosure.

For example, the disclosed embodiments include a mobile client devicefor automatically performing a mobile financial service function,including a memory storing software instructions, the softwareinstructions including a mobile financial service application configuredto perform financial service processes. The system may also include andone or more processors configured to execute the software instructionsto detect a physical action performed on the mobile client device, anddetermine a first financial service function to perform based on thedetected physical action, wherein the first financial service functionis a function provided by the mobile financial service application. Theone or more processors may also determine whether verification of a useris required, verify the user if verification of the user is required,and automatically initiate the first financial service function.

The disclosed embodiments also include a computer-implemented method forautomatically initiating a financial service function associated with amobile client device including detecting, by a mobile client deviceexecuting a software application configured to perform financial serviceprocesses, a physical action performed on the mobile client device. Themethod may also include determining, by the mobile client device, afirst financial service function to perform based on the detectedphysical action, wherein the first financial service function is afunction provided by the software application. The method also includedetermining, by the mobile client device, whether verification of a useris required and verifying, by the mobile client device, the user ifverification of the user is required. The method may also includeautomatically initiating, by the mobile client device, the firstfinancial service function.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the disclosed embodiments, as claimed.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate disclosed embodiments and,together with the description, serve to explain the disclosedembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system, consistent withdisclosed embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the system,consistent with disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary client device, consistent withdisclosed embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an exemplary quick pay registration process,consistent with disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 4A shows an exemplary data structure listing exemplary quick payfunctionality associations, consistent with disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary user registration process,consistent with disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary payment activation process,consistent with disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of exemplary relationships between mobiledevice application functions, consistent with disclosed embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the disclosed embodiments,examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverconvenient, the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system 100 for performing oneor more operations consistent with the disclosed embodiments. In oneembodiment, system 100 may include one or more financial serviceprovider systems 110, one or more client devices 150, one or moremerchant systems 160, and network 140. The components and arrangement ofthe components included in system 100 may vary. Thus, system 100 mayinclude other components that perform or assist in the performance ofone or more processes consistent with the disclosed embodiments.

Components of system 100 may be computing systems configured to initiatea payment and perform financial transactions, consistent with disclosedembodiments. As further described herein, components of system 100 mayinclude one or more computing devices (e.g., computer(s), server(s),etc.), memory storing data and/or software instructions (e.g.,database(s), memory devices, etc.), and other known computingcomponents. In some embodiments, the one or more computing devices maybe configured to execute software instructions stored on one or morememory devices to perform one or more operations consistent with thedisclosed embodiments. Components of system 100 may be configured tocommunicate with one or more other components of system 100, includingfinancial service provider system 110, client devices 150, and/ormerchant systems 160. In certain aspects, users may operate one or morecomponents of system 100 to initiate one or more operations consistentwith the disclosed embodiments.

Financial service provider system(s) 110 may be a system associated witha financial service provider, which may be an entity providing financialservices. For example, financial service provider system 110 may beassociated with a bank, credit card issuer, or any other type offinancial service entity that generates, provides, manages, and/ormaintains financial service accounts for one or more users. Financialservice accounts may include, for example, credit card accounts, loanaccounts, checking accounts, savings accounts, reward or loyalty programaccounts, and/or any other type of financial service account known tothose skilled in the art. Financial service provider system 110 mayinclude infrastructure and components that are configured to generateand/or provide financial service accounts such as credit card accounts,checking accounts, debit card accounts, loyalty or reward programs,lines of credit, and the like.

While aspects of the disclosed embodiments are disclosed in connectionwith financial service accounts, the disclosed embodiments are not solimited. The disclosed embodiments may be implemented with other typesof accounts, such as travel-related accounts, itineraries, travelboarding passes, identification accounts, and any other types of accountor record that is associated with a user, business entity, agency,organization, and the like. For example, instead of financial accounts,the disclosed embodiments may be used to initiate quick deep link accessto a mobile application function executing on a client device 150 thatprovides a boarding pass for travel, or an application that initiatesdeep link access to a function that provides identification informationfor secure access by a user presenting client device 150. In otheraspects, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented to provide deeplink access to other functionalities in mobile applications. Forexample, in certain embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods mayenable a user to gain deep link access to a particular applicationfunction through detection of gestures or motions associated with theclient device 150.

Client device(s) 150 may be one or more computing devices configured toperform one or more operations consistent with disclosed embodiments.Client device(s) 150 may be a desktop computer, a laptop, a server, amobile device (e.g., tablet, smart phone, etc.), a gaming device, awearable computing device, or any other type of computing device. Forexemplary purposes, aspects of the disclosed embodiments are describedwith reference to client device 150 as a mobile device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or the like. However, as mentioned herein, the disclosedembodiments are not limited to such examples.

Client device(s) 150 may include one or more processors configured toexecute software instructions stored in memory, such as memory includedin client device 150. Client device 150 may include one or moreprocessors configured to execute software instructions stored in memory,such as memory included in client device 150. Client device 150 mayinclude software that when executed by a processor performs knownInternet-related communication and content display processes. Forinstance, client device 150 may execute browser software that generatesand displays interfaces including content on a display device includedin, or connected to, client 150. Client device 150 may be a mobiledevice that executes mobile device applications and/or mobile devicecommunication software that allows client device 150 to communicate withcomponents over network 140, and generates and displays content ininterfaces via a display device included in client device 150. Thedisclosed embodiments are not limited to any particular configuration ofclient 150. For instance, client 150 may be a mobile device that storesand executes mobile applications that provide financial service relatedfunctions offered by financial service provider system 110 and/ormerchant system 160, such as a mobile banking application for checkingbalances, paying bills, or for performing financial transactions, suchas mobile payments with point of sale (POS) or similar components, etc.In certain embodiments, client device 150 may be configured to executesoftware instructions relating to location services, such as GPSlocations. For example, client device 150 may be configured to determinea geographic location of client 150 (and associated user 152) andprovide location data and time stamp data corresponding to the locationdata.

In one embodiment, a user 152 may use client device 150 to perform oneor more operations consistent with the disclosed embodiments. In oneaspect, user 152 may be a customer of a financial service provider thatprovides financial service accounts, such as a financial serviceprovider associated with financial service provider system 110. Forinstance, a financial service provider may maintain a financial serviceaccount (e.g., credit card account) for user 152 that user 152 may useto purchase goods and/or services online or at brick and mortarlocations associated with a merchant relating to merchant system 160. Inother embodiments, user 152 may be a potential customer of a financialservice provider associated with financial service provider 110 or maynot be affiliated with such a financial service provider from the user'sperspective and/or the financial service provider's perspective.

In certain aspects, client device 150 may be a computing device thatstores and executes applications and/or communication software thatallows client device 150 to communicate with components over network140. Client device 150 may also execute applications and/orcommunication software to perform financial transaction processes,including payment methods, such as NFC, optical payment methods such asQR codes, audio-based payment methods, internet-based payment method,SMS payment methods, or other payment methods known in the art. Thedisclosed embodiments are not limited to any particular configuration ofclient device 150.

Merchant system 160 may be one or more computing systems associated witha merchant, which may be an entity that provides goods, services, and/orinformation, such as a retailer (e.g., Macy's®, Target®, etc.), grocerystore, service provider (e.g., utility company, etc.), non-profitorganization (e.g., ACLU™, AARP®, etc.) or any other type of entity thatprovides goods, services, and/or information that consumers (e.g.,end-users or other business entities, such as user 152) may purchase,consume, use, etc. Merchant system(s) 160 is not limited to systemsassociated with merchant(s) that conduct business in any particularindustry or field.

Merchant system 160 may be associated with a merchant brick and mortarlocation(s) that a consumer (e.g., user 152) may physically visit andpurchase goods and services. Such physical locations may includemerchant system 160, which may include computing devices that performfinancial service transactions with consumers (e.g., Point of Sale (POS)terminal(s), kiosks, etc.). Merchant system 160 may also include back-and/or front-end computing components that store data and executesoftware instructions to perform operations consistent with disclosedembodiments, such as computers that are operated by employees of themerchant (e.g., back office systems, etc.). Merchant system 160 may alsobe associated with a merchant that provides goods and/or service viaknown online or e-commerce type of solutions. For example, such amerchant may sell goods via a website using known online or e-commercesystems and solutions to market, sell, and process online transactions.Merchant system 160 may include one or more computing systems, such asserver(s), that are configured to execute stored software instructionsto perform operations associated with a merchant, including one or moreprocesses associated with processing purchase transactions, generatingtransaction data, generating product data (e.g., SKU data) relating topurchase transactions, etc.

Network 140 may be any type of network configured to providecommunications between components of system 100. For example, network140 may be any type of network (including infrastructure) that providescommunications, exchanges information, and/or facilitates the exchangeof information, such as the Internet, a Local Area Network, NFC, opticalcode scanner, or other suitable connection(s) that enables the sendingand receiving of information between the components of system 100. Inother embodiments, one or more components of system 100 may communicatedirectly through a dedicated communication link(s), such as linksbetween financial service provider system 110, client devices 150, andmerchant systems 160.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an exemplary arrangement 200 forinitiating a payment on a client device 150 consistent with disclosedembodiments. As shown in this figure, a user 152 may operate a clientdevice 150 to initiate a payment to a merchant system 160 in accordancewith the disclosed embodiments. Client device 150 may utilize a paymentsystem such as NFC, optical barcodes or QR codes, audio payment methods,internet-based payment methods, SMS-based payment methods, or any otherpayment system or payment process known in the art. Client device 150and/or merchant system 160 may communicate data regarding the payment tofinancial service provider system 110. Financial service provider system110 may send information such as payment confirmation, failurenotification, or a request for more information to merchant system 160and/or client 150.

It is to be understood that the configuration and boundaries of thefunctional building blocks of systems 100 and 200 have been arbitrarilydefined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternativeboundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions andrelationships thereof are appropriately performed. Alternatives(including equivalents, extensions, variations, deviations, etc., ofthose described herein) will be apparent to persons skilled in therelevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein. For example,client device 150 and merchant system 160 may constitute a part ofcomponents of systems 100 and 200 other than those specificallydescribed, or may constitute a part of multiple components of system 100(i.e., a distributed system). Such alternatives fall within the scopeand spirit of the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary client device 150 consistent with disclosedembodiments. In one embodiment, client device 150 may include one ormore processors 302, one or more input/output (I/O) devices 304, and oneor more memories 310. In some embodiments, client device 150 may takethe form of a mobile computing device such as a smartphone or tablet, ageneral purpose computer, or any combination of these components.Alternatively, client device 150 (or a system including client device150) may be configured as a particular apparatus, embedded system,dedicated circuit, and the like based on the storage, execution, and/orimplementation of the software instructions that perform one or moreoperations consistent with the disclosed embodiments. According to someembodiments, client device 150 may comprise web browsers(s) or similarcomputing devices that access web site(s) consistent with disclosedembodiments.

Processor 302 may include one or more known processing devices, such asmobile device microprocessors manufactured by Intel™, NVIDIA™, or anyvarious other processors. The disclosed embodiments are not limited toany type of processor(s) configured in client device 150.

Memory 310 may include one or more storage devices configured to storeinstructions used by processor 302 to perform functions related todisclosed embodiments. For example, memory 310 may be configured withone or more software instructions, such as program(s) 312 that mayperform one or more operations when executed by processor 302. Thedisclosed embodiments are not limited to separate programs or computersconfigured to perform dedicated tasks. For example, memory 310 mayinclude a single program 302 that performs the functions of the clientdevice 150, or program 312 may comprise multiple programs. Memory 310may also store data 314 that is used by one or more programs 312.

In certain embodiments, memory 310 may store a mobile bankingapplication 325 that may be executed by processor(s) 302 to perform oneor more mobile banking application processes consistent with disclosedembodiments. For example, mobile banking application 325 may be providedby a financial service provider system 110 or another system associatedwith a financial service provider that provides financial accounts heldby a user, such as user 152. In certain aspects, mobile bankingapplication 325, or another software component, may be configured toperform detection processes for detecting certain positions andorientations of client device 150. For instance, these softwareinstructions, when executed by processor(s) 302 may process informationreceived from components within client device 150 that detect andprovide signals indicating the orientation of client device 150, orwhether certain motions or movements are performed on client device 150(e.g., shaking, twisting, turning, flipping, moving at a certainaccelerations or directions, etc.) The software instructions may processthis information to determine whether certain conditions have been metin relation to certain mobile banking application functions, such aspayment functions that may be deep linked into options of the mobilebanking application.

I/O devices 304 may be one or more devices configured to allow data tobe received and/or transmitted by client device 150. I/O devices 304 mayinclude one or more digital and/or analog devices that allow clientdevice 150 to communicate with other machines and devices, such as othercomponents of systems 100 and 200. For example, I/O devices 304 mayinclude a screen for displaying optical payment methods such as QRcodes, or providing information to the user, I/O devices 304 may alsoinclude components for NFC communication. I/O devices 304 may alsoinclude one or more digital and/or analog devices that allow user 152 tointeract with client device 150 such as a touch-sensitive area, buttons,or microphones. I/O devices 304 may also include one or moreaccelerometers to detect the orientation and inertia of device 150. I/Odevices 304 may also include other components known in the art forinteracting with user 152, merchant system 160, or financial serviceprovider system 110.

The components of client device 150 may be implemented in hardware,software, or a combination of both hardware and software, as will beapparent to those skilled in the art.

In certain aspects, user 152 may configure software applications, suchas mobile banking application 325, to perform quick paymentfunctionalities based on gestures, motions, or similar actions taken onclient device 150. For instance, in certain embodiments, client device150 may be configured to detect when it has been flipped to a certainposition (e.g., horizontal, vertical, angular, etc.), and in response,initiate financial transaction functionalities that may be deep linkedwithin one or more levels of functionality within mobile bankingapplication 325. User 152 may configure client device 150, ad/or mobilebanking application 325, or another software component, to performcertain actions based on the detected movements, motions, gestures, andthe like performed on client device 150. FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of anexemplary quick pay configuration process 400, consistent with disclosedembodiments.

In step 410, client device 150 may receive input from user 152 torequest configuration of a quick pay option provided by the softwareexecuted by client device 150 in relation to mobile bankingfunctionalities (although as noted above, the disclosed embodiments maybe implemented for other types of functionalities that may be unrelatedto financial services). In response, client device 150 may present user152 via a display device one or more interfaces that enable user 152 toconfigure the quick pay features consistent with the disclosedembodiments (step 420). For example, client device 150 may present user152 with the option to associate one or more specific gestures, motions,movements, or other actions to one or more mobile bankingfunctionalities that may be provided by mobile banking application 325.The associated mobile banking functionalities may include functions thatare deep linked within the mobile banking application options, such as apayment process that allows the application to perform wireless purchasetransactions with POS or similar devices using known wireless purchasetransaction technologies.

Client device 150 may receive user 152's input selections regarding theoptions for configuring the quick pay functionalities (step 430). Clientdevice 150 may store the information in one or more data structures thatmay be used by software instructions that perform quick payfunctionalities consistent with disclosed embodiments (step 440). FIG.4A shows an exemplary data structure listing exemplary quick payfunctionality associations that the disclosed embodiments may configurein accordance with disclosed embodiments. The listing of FIG. 4A isexemplary. The disclosed embodiments may enable user 152 to configureother types of actions with other types of application functionalities.Further, the disclosed embodiments include implementations where actionand application functionalities may be preconfigured with the mobilebanking application software, where a user does not need, or may not beallowed to, configure, modify, etc.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary quick payment process consistentwith the disclosed embodiments. In one aspect, one or more processes ofFIG. 5 may be performed by client device 150, and may be performed by amobile banking application (e.g., 325) or other software instructionsstored and executed by client device 150. At step 510, client device 150may receive input indicating that user 152 requests to log into themobile banking application. In one embodiment, mobile bankingapplication 325 may require user to present credentials to enable accessto the functionalities of the application, such as a username andpassword.

At step 520, client device 150 may receive a request from user 152 toinitiate payment (or some other mobile banking applicationfunctionality). In certain embodiments, the request may consist of aphysical manipulation of client device 150, such as flipping, tilting,or moving the device in a specific manner (e.g., shaking side to side,shaking up and down, shaking a determined number of times, etc.). Incertain embodiments, client device 150 may include movement andorientation components, such as an accelerometer and/or orientationdetection circuitry (or similar circuitry or technology known in theart), that may be configured to detect the orientation and/or movementof client device 150. The movement and orientation components maygenerate signals that processor(s) 301 may use when executing softwareinstructions relating to the mobile banking application 325 to determineone or more quick pay functionalities to initiate. In one aspect, clientdevice 150 may use a data structure including configured associationsbetween actions performed on client device 150 and mobile bankingapplication functionalities, such as the exemplary associations shown inFIG. 4A. In one example, mobile device application 325 (or anothersoftware component) may determine a request to initiate payment whenclient device 150 has been rotated from a portrait orientation to alandscape orientation. Other motions may also be used, such as shaking,flipping, rotating, etc.

In certain aspects, mobile banking application 325 may be configured toprovide multiple payment methods (e.g., both NFC and QR codes aresupported). In certain aspects, the quick pay functionalities of thedisclosed embodiments may be configured to associate a specific motionto each payment method. For example, placing client device 150 so thatits screen is facing upwards may be used to initiate a QR payment, sincethis position may be the easiest for a merchant device to scan. Inanother embodiment, a different motion, such as moving the device in ahorizontal direction, or tapping the device against a surface, may beused to activate a second payment method, such as NFC. Many NFC readersrequire a tapping or sweeping motion, so this type of motion may be moreintuitive to the user. In other embodiments, a single motion may be usedto initiate a payment even when multiple methods are possible. Incertain embodiments, user 152 may be prompted to select a method, or themobile banking application (or other software component) may beconfigured to automatically select a payment method, for example bydetermining the methods available for a merchant involved in the paymenttransaction.

Other means of initiating a payment may also be used. For example,pressing a dedicated button on the device, or entering a specificsequence of button presses. In this manner, the user may discretelyenter a pattern of presses known only to them, in order to initiate apayment. For example, by pressing a volume up button on the device in asequence. This sequence may be preconfigured with the mobile bankingapplication software (e.g., may be assigned by the financial serviceprovider providing the mobile banking application stored on clientdevice 150), or may be selected by user 152, such as a PIN. A similarsequence of taps may also be used for devices that comprise anaccelerometer or are sensitive to touch. In this embodiment, user 152may initiate payment by tapping a portion of client device 150 (e.g., atouch screen display, etc.) in a specific sequence, or a specific numberof times.

For client devices 150 that include a touch-sensitive orstylus-sensitive input, user 152 may also initiate payment by drawing aspecific pattern or writing specific characters on the device. Forexample, a user may write a code word specific to that user, such astheir name or initials, on the device to initiate payment.

At step 530, client device 150 may determine whether the user has beenverified. For example, if the user log on request 510 consists of aspecific sequence, pattern, number, or other secret known only to theuser, then the request itself may be used to authenticate the user. Insome circumstances, further authentication may be desired for additionalsecurity. For example, further authentication may be desired forrequests based on rotating or flipping the device in a specificdirection. In these embodiments, a further authentication may be used toidentify user 152 or authorize the payment request (step 530). Incertain aspects, authentication may consist of any known method ofidentifying a user or authorizing a process to be performed. In oneaspect, client device 150 may prompt user 152 for an identificationinput (e.g., password or PIN) to verify user 152 (e.g., step 540). Atstep 530, if client device 150 determines that user 152 has beenverified (step 530; Yes), the process may proceed to step 560 forinitiating the requested payment functionality (step 560). If clientdevice 150 does not verify user 152 (step 530; No), client device 150may further verify user or the requested process (step 540). Methodsknown in the art may be used to verify the user at step 540, includingthe methods described above in connection with step 520. For example, afirst method such as tilting the device may be used to request toinitiate a payment at step 520 and a second method, such as inputting acode sequence (e.g., word, numerals, etc.) on the device screen may beused to verify the user at step 540.

Once the device has verified the user, client device 150 may initiatethe payment process (step 560). The payment method may comprise any typeof payment method known in the art, such as NFC. QR code, internet-basedpayment, SMS-based payment, or other types of payment methods. In oneembodiment, the mobile banking application running on client device 150may initiate payment by allowing user 152 to enter one or moretransaction details. The application may generate interface(s) fordisplaying a QR code on a device screen of client device 150. Byscanning the QR code, a merchant system 160 may process and complete therequested financial transaction. In other embodiments, the paymentmethod and details may be received from merchant system 160; based onone or more user preferences stored in memory on client device 150, orreceived from the financial service provider system 110. In theseembodiments, client device 150 may execute software that may prompt user152 to verify the payment details before the payment is initiated.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an alternative payment process 600 consistentwith disclosed embodiments. In one aspect, payment process 600 mayinclude quick pay functionalities that do not require a user to log into a mobile banking application (or other software application) beforerequesting a payment. For example, in step 610, a user 152 may requestto initiate a payment process by using one of the methods describedabove in connection with step 510 of FIG. 5. At step 620, client device150 may execute software to determine whether user 152 has beenverified. Verification may be performed using similar processes ormethods as those discussed above in connection with FIG. 5. For example,client device 150 may verify user 152 based on the type of paymentrequest that is received. For example, if a specific sequence of taps isused to request a payment or orientation or movement of client device150 is detected, then further verification of user 152 may not benecessary. If, however, user 152 is not verified at step 620, theprocess may proceed to step 630 to perform verification processes. Inone embodiment, the verification processes of step 630 may include oneor more of the processes described above in connection with step 540 ofFIG. 5.

At step 640, client device 150 may determine the type of payment methodto be used for performing payment associated with the financial serviceaccount relating to user 152. The payment method may be any method ofpayment known in the art, such as NFC payments, optical codes such as QRcodes, audio-based payment systems, or any other known payment method.In one embodiment, client device 150 may automatically select thepayment method based on a stored user preference or based onpreconfigured rules stored in memory of client device 150. In anotherembodiment, client device 150 may query merchant system 160 to determinewhat types of payment methods are available at that merchant, and selectan available method. In another embodiment, client device 150 may promptuser 152 to select a payment method.

The disclosed embodiments may include a transaction detail process. Forexample, at optional step 650, client device 150 may determine one ormore details for the requested payment. Transaction details may includeone or more of the payment amount, the identity of the financial serviceaccount that the funds for the payment transaction will be drawn from,and the destination to which the funds will be provided. In oneembodiment, client device 150 may prompt user 150 may to manually enterone or more transaction details using known input mechanisms for clientdevice 150 (e.g., touch screen, keypad, voice recognition technology,etc.). In another embodiment, client device 150 may execute softwarethat generates communications that may be provided to merchant system160 to request and receive one or more transaction details, such as thepayment amount and the destination, and may prompt user 152 for thesource account. In another embodiment client device 150 mayautomatically select a source account based on user defined preferences.For example, client device 150 may allow user 152 to identify one ormore financial accounts to be used for particular mobile bankingapplication functionalities. User 152 may associated the financialaccounts to particular payment methods during the quick payconfiguration process 400 or during another configuration processprovided by client device 150. Client device 150 may also prompt user152 to confirm the transaction details before allowing client device 150to initiate the payment.

At step 660, client device 150 may perform process(es) for initiatingpayment using the selected method and transaction details. Once thepayment has been initiated by client device 150, the disclosedembodiments may perform known payment processes for completing financialtransactions using client device 150 and related financial accounts,such as confirming and authorizing payment from a designated financialaccount through financial service provider system 110 using the selectedpayment method.

In certain embodiments, one or more of process steps 610-660 may beperformed by mobile banking application 325 running on client device150. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, each of thesesteps may also be performed by other software instructions executed byone or more processors in client device 150.

Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromconsideration of the specification and practice of the disclosedembodiments. For example, the disclosed embodiments provide, in someexamples, automatic access to deep linked application functionalitiesbased on detected physical actions performed on client device 150. FIG.7 shows a block diagram of an exemplary mobile device applicationfunctionality relationship consistent with certain embodiments. Asexemplified in the figure, a mobile device application, such as mobilebanking application 325, may provide different functionalities, whichmay be accessible by a user through one or more levels offunctionalities and/or menu options. For example, user 152 may manuallyaccess functionality 732 by selecting options that may be provided oninterfaces by client device 150 associated with high levelfunctionalities 722 and 710. Aspects of the disclosed embodiments mayallow client device 150 to automatically initiate functionality ofselected deep linked application functionalities (e.g., functions 720,722, 730, 732) based on determined physical actions performed on clientdevice 150 (e.g., rotating, flipping, shaking, etc.).

The disclosed embodiments may be configured such that actions performedon client device 150 (e.g., rotating, flipping, shaking, etc.) asdescribed herein may be used to initiate other types of functionality.For example, in one embodiment, the disclosed embodiments may beconfigured to enable a user to log into or gain access to apredetermined application (e.g., a mobile banking application, mobilefinancial service application, application that provides a boarding passfor travel, application that provides identification information forsecure access by a user, or any other predetermined application that maybe stored and executed by client device 150) by performing a specificaction (e.g., turning the device horizontal, shaking, moving side toside, etc.), or sequence of actions (e.g., two or more actions, such asturning the device horizontal, then counter-clockwise along a first axisto vertical, then flipping 180 degrees along a second axis to verticalin the opposite direction, etc.). The disclosed embodiments may also beconfigured to enable a user to unlock client device 150, an application,or an option, function, or deep linked function of an application byperforming an action or sequence of actions on client device 150 (e.g.,shaking to unlock client device 150, or rotating and moving in aspecific direction, etc.) As will be further apparent to a personskilled in the art, each of these embodiments and other embodiments maybe used alone, or in combination.

Moreover, it is intended that the specification and examples beconsidered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of thedisclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims.Furthermore, although aspects of the disclosed embodiments are describedas being associated with data stored in memory and other tangiblecomputer-readable storage mediums, one skilled in the art willappreciate that these aspects can also be stored on and executed frommany types of tangible computer-readable media, such as secondarystorage devices, like hard disks, floppy disks, or CD-ROM, or otherforms of RAM or ROM. Accordingly, the disclosed embodiments are notlimited to the above described examples, but instead is defined by theappended claims in light of their full scope of equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method forautomatically initiating a financial service function using a mobileclient device, comprising; detecting, by a mobile client deviceexecuting a software application configured to perform financial serviceprocesses, a motion pattern associated with a physical drawing actionperformed on the mobile client device by a user; determining, by themobile client device, a financial service function of the softwareapplication based on the detected motion pattern; analyzing, by themobile client device, the detected motion pattern based on predefinedcriteria; verifying the user, by the mobile client device, based on theanalysis of the motion pattern; and automatically initiating, by themobile client device, the financial service function based at least onthe verification.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion patternis associated with a drawing performed on a touch-sensitive component ofthe mobile client device.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the motionpattern represents a code word, a name, or a set of initials associatedwith the predetermined criteria.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein thepredetermined criteria is preconfigured with the software application.5. The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined criteria comprisesthe motion pattern and is selected by the user.
 6. The method of claim1, wherein the financial service function is a deep linked functionprovided by the software application.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinthe financial service function is a payment function provided by thesoftware application.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the paymentfunction includes a payment method comprising at least one of an opticalpayment code payment method, a near-field communication payment method,an audio payment signal method, an internet-based payment method, or anSMS-based payment method.
 9. A mobile apparatus for automaticallyinitiating a financial service function, comprising; a memory storingsoftware instructions, the software instructions including a financialservice application configured to perform financial service functions;and at least one processor configured to execute the stored softwareinstructions to: detect a motion pattern associated with a physicaldrawing action performed on the mobile client device by a user; selectat least one of the financial service function based on the detectedmotion pattern; analyze the detected motion pattern based onpredetermined criteria; verify the user based on the analysis of themotion pattern; and automatically initiate the least one selectedfinancial service function based at least on the verification.
 10. Themobile apparatus of claim 9, wherein the motion pattern is associatedwith a drawing performed on a touch-sensitive component of the mobileclient device.
 11. The mobile apparatus of claim 10, wherein the motionpattern represents a code word, a name, or a set of initials associatedwith the predetermined criteria.
 12. The mobile apparatus of claim 11,wherein the predetermined criteria is preconfigured with the softwareapplication.
 13. The mobile apparatus of claim 11, wherein thepredetermined criteria comprises the motion pattern and is selected bythe user.
 14. The mobile apparatus of claim 9, wherein the financialservice function is a deep linked function provided by the softwareapplication.
 15. The mobile apparatus of claim 9, wherein the financialservice function is a payment function provided by the softwareapplication.
 16. The mobile apparatus of claim 15, wherein the paymentfunction includes a payment method comprising at least one of an opticalpayment code payment method, a near-field communication payment method,an audio payment signal method, an internet-based payment method, or anSMS-based payment method.
 17. A transitory computer-readable storagemedium storing instructions that, when executed by at least oneprocessor, cause the at least one processor to perform operationscomprising: detecting, in a mobile client device executing a softwareapplication configured to perform financial service processes, a motionpattern associated with a physical drawing action performed on themobile client device by a user; determining, by the mobile clientdevice, a financial service function of the software application basedon the detected motion pattern; analyzing, by the mobile client device,the detected motion pattern based on predetermined criteria; verifyingthe user, by the mobile client device, based on the analysis of themotion pattern; and automatically initiating, by the mobile clientdevice, the financial service function based at least on theverification.
 18. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein the motionpattern is associated with a drawing performed on a touch-sensitivecomponent of the mobile client device.
 19. The storage medium of claim18, wherein the motion pattern represents a code word, a name, or a setof initials.
 20. The storage medium of claim 19, wherein thepredetermined criteria is preconfigured with the software application.21. The storage medium of claim 19, wherein the predetermined criteriacomprises a motion pattern and is selected by the user.
 22. The storagemedium of claim 17, wherein the financial service function is a deeplinked function provided by the software application.
 23. The storagemedium of claim 17, wherein the financial service function is a paymentfunction provided by the software application.
 24. The storage medium ofclaim 23, wherein the payment function includes a payment methodcomprising at least one of an optical payment code payment method, anear-field communication payment method, an audio payment signal method,an internet-based payment method, or an SMS-based payment method.